Thank you for joining us for Eyewitness News at Eleven.
I'm Jennifer Moulliet.
Our top story today, three people died in a single car accident in Macon right around two thirty this morning.
According to Macon Police Spokesperson, Jami Gaudet, 38 year old Sherry Bishop was traveling north on Pio Nono Avenue when she lost control of her 2004 Chevy Impala.
Witnesses say Bishop was traveling at a high rate of speed when she went up a curb struck a sign and several bushes and rolled over multiple times.
Passengers, 40 year old Temple Dumas and 45 year old Derwin Durden were ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.
Bishop was taken to the Medical Center of Central Georgia where she later died from her injuries.
Police are still investigating the accident.
Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones says this is the fifth traffic fatality this week in three separate accidents.
A sign off of Merriweather Road in Baldwin County caused outrage for a Baldwin County Commissioner.
The sign originally said Children at Play but children was blacked out and replaced by an offensive word.
Austin Lewis has more on this story.
This sign is meant to warn drivers that children have fun on these streets.
But just across the street an identical sign was up but with an uglier message.
The word children, blacked out and replaced with a different and offensive term for African-Americans.
Emily Davis, County Comissioner: "Received a phone call saying a sign that says children are playing to the n-word are playing....so I came out to see and the sign was here."
Davis says she arrived early Saturday afternoon and was taken aback by the seven letter word scribbled across it, hanging on the post.
Emily Davis, County Comissioner: "I'm like you must be kidding not, we've had racial problems we've had a history of racial problems here in Baldwin County and racial issues are not dead anywhere it's just that I hope they are not trying to raise their head again."
Davis says she called deputies and they were able to get rid of it within a couple of hours.
She plans to take the graffitied sign to the road department on Monday.
Austin Lewis 13WMAZ eyewitness news.
An officer with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department says they did work this case and say they are continuing to investigate.
They don't know who is responsible for the grafitti but say those responsible will face a charge of interference of government property.
One non-profit organization in Forsyth is using music to keep kids off the streets and in school.
Judy Le stopped by the Monroe County Recreation Department, where the Magnificent Marching Machine talked about rhythm and life lessons
They call themselves the Magnificent Marching Machine.
And it's all business on the field. From snares to quad drums. Each member is armed with various percussion instruments.
Clay Vedder, 17, band member: "Anyone can bring their own style of music and everybody can mix their beats together to make a nice drumline cadence."
Jabaughn Carrawell, 19, band member: "I feel like we can be the best in middle Ga."
This isn't your average drum line. The group is made up of members ages 7 and up. The instruments they play are all borrowed from schools in Crawford, Putnam, and Monroe counties.
Brandon Moore, co-founder: "We're all about the educational program, trying to get kids that are at risk."
This non-profit group started in August 2012 to use music as a way to keep kids off the streets and in school. These are life lessons disguised in music.
"It teaches discipline and then rhythm. Because reading drum music, you read a lot more notes. You don't have a note value, like an A B C D. You have a lot of notes and it's difficult to read. And then you have to get together with friends because you can't play one drum sound good."
"Its so important because it's very therapeutic . If you're having a bad day, you can get on your drum and beat it out. It's so much more than music."
The group practices for four hours every weekend at the Monroe County Recreation Department. They even taught me a few moves, it took a few tries...but I think I got it down.
The entire band consists of about 70 member..each bringing a sound of their own that can only be described as...
"dynamic, pure and just intact."
Judy Le 13wmaz eyewitness news.
Band membership is open to all individuals living in central georgia.
For more information, check out our webstory at 13-wmaz.com
Hostess has found a new home for its most popular breads--including the iconic Wonder bread... Georgia.
Flowers Foods of Thomasville is buying the bread business for 390-million dollars.
The Georgia company is best known for Tastykakes but also makes Nature's Own and Cobblestone Mill.
The bankrupt maker of Twinkies is expected to announce buyers for its cakes in the coming weeks.
The nation will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday almost two weeks from now...
But one central Georgia town got a head start Today.
Videojournalist Claudia Taylor shows us Jeffersonville's MLK parade and program.
Legislation for the Holiday was introduced in 1968, four days after Martin Luther king Junior was assassinated.
It became a national holiday and was first celebrated in 1986.
New York is the latest state to declare a public health emergency because of the flu.
People are rushing out to get vaccinated but some are finding out it's not that easy to find.
Erica Ferrari is in New York City, one of the hardest hit places with the latest on the epidemic.
People waited on a long line outside a Boston health clinic to get their flu shot.
"JUST TO AVOID THE FLU, GETTING SICK AND IT'S FREE WHY NOT."
Health officials say the flu is widespread in 47 states making it one of the worst seasons in years.
Doctor Gary Mazer is on the front lines.
He treats patients at an urgent care center in New York City...
Doctor Gary Mazer/CITYMD URGENT CARE, NEW YORK CITY: "ON A TYPICAL DAY IN PRIOR YEARS YOU WOULD SEE TWO TO THREE CASES A DAY AND TODAY WE ARE SEEING OVER 20, 30 ,40 ,50 CASES A DAY."
New York state reports nearly 20-thousand CASES.
The flU is spreading fast in the city.
Doctor Gary Mazer/CITYMD URGENT CARE, NEW YORK CITY: "THE COUGHING, SNEEZING BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMETY TO SOMEONE WITH THOSE SYMPTOMS YOU CAN CONTRACT THE FLU."
The outbreak in New York state is so bad, officials have declared a public health emergency.
New York's Governor suspended a law that limited where children can get vaccinated. Now kids between six months and 18 years of age can come to a pharmacy like this one to get the flu shot.
But, the flu shot may not be easy to find.
PAUL/ looking for the flu shot: "I CAME IN I HAD TO GET SOME PERSRIPTIONS FILLED. I WAS COUNTING ON GETTING MY FLU SHOT AND THEY ARE OUT OF FLU SHOTS."
Although there are reports of shortages, stores and clinics say they are restocking.
This year, manufactures shipped 130 million doses of the vaccine.
Health officials say it's is a good match for the strains making people sick.
The flu season can last through March so doctors say it's not too late to protect yourself.
Doctors say it takes two weeks for the flu vaccine to be fully effective.
But it starts to protect you right away.
Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the deadly costa Concordia accident off the coast of Ciglio, Italy.
Crews are still working on the biggest salvage operation in history.
This weekend they're doing their job, as family members of the victims watch and prepare for ceremonies to honor their loved ones.
Anna Matranga is in Giglio with the story.
KEVIN REBELLO IS ON GIGLIO ISLAND TO MARK THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BROTHER'S DEATH.
KEVIN REBELLO: "It's been a difficult time, it's not easy, I can't express it in words."
33 YEAR OLD RUSSELL, A WAITER ON THE COSTA CONCODIA, IS ONE OF TWO VICTIMS WHOSE BODIES HAVE NEVER BEEN FOUND.
KEVIN REBELLO: "The thought of returning back to the island has given me a bit of relief because I find myself near to him."
ONE YEAR AGO SUNDAY, THE LUXURY CRUISELINER SLAMMED INTO A REEF AFTER ITS CAPTAIN TOOK THE SHIP OFF COURSE.
THE IMPACT RIPPED A HUGE GASH IN THE HULL, CAUSING THE COSTA CONCORDIA TO CAPSIZE.
32 PEOPLE DIED AND SCORES WERE INJURED.
NOW, MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO REMOVE THE SHIP THAT IS TWICE THE SIZE OF THE TITANIC.
NICK SLOANE, Senior Salvage Master, Titan Salvage) (CO-HEAD WITH GIROTTO OF SALVAGE OPERATIONS: "It's a very powerful team, the most powerful team ever on a salvage operation."
ANNA MATRANGA, GIGLIO: "THE OPERATION TO GET THE COSTA CONCORDIA OUT OF THE WATER IS ENORMOUS AND EXPENSIVE. IT WILL COST 400 MILLION DOLLARS TO ROLL THE SHIP UPRIGHT AND THEN TOW IT AWAY."
THE PLAN IS TO MOVE THE SHIP ONTO AN UNDERWATER PLATFORM ALMOST AS BIG AS A FOOTBALL FIELD.
CREWS WILL THEN ATTACH STEEL FLOATS...EACH ABOUT 10 STORIES HIGH...TO KEEP THE SHIP FROM SINKING AGAIN.
THE SALVAGE COMPANY WANTS TO DO BY SEPTEMBER AND SAYS BASED ON MATHEMATICAL CALCULATIONS IT ***SHOULD*** WORK.
SERGIO GIROTTO, Microperi) (CO-DIRECTOR WITH NICK SLOANE OF SALVAGE OPERATIONS: "We cannot promise what has not been proven before. // Because it's never been attempted before to handle a vessel in this position."
SALVAGE CREWS WILL STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR ONE MINUTE ON SUNDAY TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
There will also be cermonies on the island to honor the victims.
As part of sunday's memorial service, a piece of the huge rock that tore apart the ship's hull will be returned to the reef, along with a plaque commemorating the victims.
That is the show for tonight. We'll see you back here at 7 for Weekend Mornin
But the news is always on at 13wmaz dot com.
We'll see you tomorrow !